Foot-accelerator attachment for automobiles.



T. C. LUCE.

FOOT ACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1915.

Patented May 2, 1916.

- n tra e earns PATENT onrrcn THOMAS C. LUCIE, STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN CHAIN COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FOOT-ACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

memes.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it lmown that I, THOMAS C. LUOE, of

. crating attachments for use in connection -with Ford or other automobiles and comprises a'variable length connector to be interposed between the regular accelerator handle and the carburcter, said connector comprising, if desired, a connector rod and a relatively movable connector bar, a. connector bell crank being pivotally mounted on the connectorbar and connected to the connector rod and a pedal lever connected to said bell crank to operate the same and vary the effective length of said connector the accelerator handle. g

In the .accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way an illustrative embodiment of this invention, Figure 1 is a plan view, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional elevation -taken sub-' stantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a partial perspective View.

This invention relates especially to Ford or other automobiles in which the accelerator handle, such as 6, is arranged in connection with a toothed sector or other detent device 5 by which it is held in the desired without interfering with the adjustment of position, as for instance adjacent the steer-,

ing wheel 2 connected to the shaft 3. The movement of this accelerator handle turns the connected accelerator rod 4; and the accelerator arm 41 thereon which through suitable connections turns the valve arm 37 on the carbureter valve stem 38 so as to control the explosive mixture supplied by the carburetor 39 to the engine 40 and thus accelerate the automobile to the desired extent. Tnsteadof a simple rod or other connection between the accelerator arm and carbureter valve arm a suitable variable length connector is interposed between these Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 191% Application filed 11115 "7, 1915. Serial No. 38,605.

apedal or other auxiliary accelerating device without undesirably aflecting the adjustment of the accelerator handle. In this way the acceleration can be controlled either by the accelerator handle in the usual way, theaction of which is not undesirably interfered with, or after the accelerator handle has been set, such further acceleration of the automobile can be secured by varying the effective length of this connector through the auxlliary accelerating devices. These auxiliary accelerating devices may, for. example, comprise the foot pedal 9 of any suitable construction which in the Ford automobile may be conveniently mounted on the foot-board 8 of the machine as by having a bearing portlon of this pedal lever extending through a bearing sleeve 10 which may be in the form of a stamped or bent-up portion of the bearing bracket 31 screwed or otherwise secured to the foot-board. In this way the pedal lever is mounted in desired position so that its longitudinal alinement is secured by the substantially close fit of the bearing sleeve between the pedal and the bent-up portion 11 of this pedal lever, the adjacent positlonmg portion 12 extending down through the slot 43 in the foot plate 7 through which the brake pedal operates so that normally this pedal lever is held in the normal released position indicated against the forward end 42 of this slot. The lower transmitting end 13 of this pedal lever may be provided with any suitable connection, as for instance its transmitting end may be flattened at'le'and formed with a suitable aperture through which may be passed the connecting member, such as the connector link 17, which may have its end 15 bent to pass through the aperture inthe pedal lever and secured in placetherein as by the split pin 16. This connector link may vary the effective length of the connector in any suitable way so as preferably to allowthe independent acceleration of the. machine through the regular accelerator handle, and for this purpose the connector may comprise the connector bar 29 having, if desired, a

suitable pivot yoke 33% formed thereon the i proper angle to coiiperate with the accelerator arm 41 and be connected thereto by the pivot 30 which may, if desired, be secured in place by the split pin 44.

The connector rod 27 may have its end 36 bent at a suitable angle to engage the car; bureter valvearm 37 and be permanently secured thereto by a suitable cotter pin indicated and this connector rod may pass through the bent-up portion or guiding lug 28 on the connector bar and be moved longitudinally with respect thereto by suitable connections actuated by the link 17 referred to.- These connections for varying the effective length of the connector may, for instance, comprise asuitable connector regulating device such as the connector bell crank 20 pivoted about the pin 21 in the connector bar and having, if desired, a swiveling block 23 whose stem 24: may extend loosely through a suitable aperture in the arm 22 of this bell crank lever and be loosely riveted therein so as to allow the swiveling movement of this block in the bell crank lever without otherwise destroying its alinement therewith. The connector rod may have a threaded end 26 extending through the threaded hole in the block 23 so that a screw thread adjustment of these parts can besecured before the rod is connected to the carbureter and the position of this bell crank lever and connected rod are of course controlled by the link 17 which may extend either above or preferably under the connector rod and bar and which may as indicated be pivotally connected by having its end 18 pass throughthe end of the bell crank lever and be permanently secured therein as by the split pin 19. A suitable return or take-up spring may be connected anywhere between these parts and may, for example, be in the form of a spiral spring 35 having its'end secured to the connector rod 27 as bypassing the end of the spring through a hole therein while the other end of this spring may push against the upturned guide lug 28 so as to normally extend this variable length connector and at the same time draw forward the connected link 17 and the lower part of the pedal lever so that this pedal lever is normally held in the released position indicated in full lines in Fi s. 2 and 3.

This simple device may be sold and may be readily applied to an automobile by removing the regular connector between the accelerator arm and carbureter valve arm and connecting this variable length connector thereto and then securing the pedal lever in position adjacent the brake lever slot by screwing the bearmg bracket 31 to'the footboard and connecting. the link to "this lever and to the bell crank. All the parts are then in position ant. the connector rod should preferably be screwed into the swivel block so that the bell crank lever assumes some such angular position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 when the device isready for effective service. Under operating conditions the regular or minimum acceleration may be effected by the accelerator handle 6 which may be permanently held in this desired position and the further acceleration of the machine, may then be instantly effected from time to time bypressing forward the pedal 9 which through the connections indicated moves the link and bell crank into the dotted position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for instance, and alters the length of the connector so as to further open the carbureter-valve and secure the further acceleration desired. As soon as the pedal is released the return spring 35 restores the parts to their original position so that the desired minimum acceleration is once-more efl'ected and by this simple attachment the same desirable combined foot and hand control of the machine can be secured as has been found desirable in other automobiles.

This invention has been described in con nection with a number of illustrative embodiments, forms, arrangements, parts and proportions, to the details of which disf closure the invention is not of course to be llmlted, smcewhat as claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In automobile accelerating devices, the combination withan accelerator handle and connected accelerator rod and arm to actuate the carbureter ,valve arm, of avariable length connector comprising a connector rod pivotally connected to said valve arm, a connector bar pivotally connected to said accelerator arm and having aguide through which said'connector rod loosely passes, a connector bell crank lever pivoted to said connectorbar and having a swiveling block mounted thereon to which said connector rod is adjustably connected a take-up and return spring normally forcing the free end of said connector away from said connector bar, a connector link pivotally connected to said bell crank lever, a pedal lever connected to said link and extending through a slot in the tootboard to be normally held in released position by said take-up spring and a removable bearing bracket for said pedal lever secured to said foot-board.

2. In automobile accelerating devices, the combination with an accelerator handle and connected accelerator rod and arm to actuate ,the carbureter valve arm, of a variable lengthconnector comprising a connector rod connected to "saidacceleratoi' arm and'having a guide through whichsaidconnector rod loosely passes, a connector crank lever pivoted to said connector bar and to which said connector rod is adjustably connected, -a take-up and return spring normally forcing the free end of said connector away from said connector bar, a connector link connected to said bell crank lever, a pedal.

lever connected to said link and extending through a slot in the foot-board to be normally held in released position by said takeup spring. and a bearing device for said pedal lever.

3. In automobile accelerating devices, the combination with an accelerator handle and connected accelerator rod and arm to actuate the carbureter valve arm, of a variable length connector comprising a connector rod connected to said valve arm, a connector bar connected to said accelerator arm, a connector lever pivoted to said connector bar and to which said connector rod isconnected, a connector link connected to said lever, a pedal lever connected to said link and extending through aslot in the foot-board 'to be normally held in released position by said take-up spring anda bearing device for said pedal lever.

4. An accelerating attachment for automobiles, comprising a variable length connector adapted to be interposed between the accelerator handle and carbureter and comprising a connector rod and a cooperating connector bar having a guide lug through which said connector rod passes, a connector bell crank lever pivoted to said connector bar and having a connected swiveling block with which said connector rod has a threaded adjustable connection, a take-up and return spring between said connector rod and connector bar, a pedal lever and a cooperating bearing bracket to be secured to the automobile foot-board and a connector link pivotally connected to saidbell crank lever and said pedal lever to normally hold said pedal lever in released position in connection with said foot-board.

5. An accelerating attachment for automobiles, comprising a variable length connector adapted to be interposed between the accelerator handle and carbureter and comprising a connector rodand a cooperating connector bar, a connector bell crank lever pivoted to said connector bar with which said connector rod has a threaded adjustable connection, a take-up and return sprin mounted on said connector rod, a pedal lever and a cooperating bearing device to be secured to the automobile foot-board and a connector link pivotally connected to said bell crank lever and said pedal lever to normally'hold said pedal lever in released position in connection with said foot-board.

nector adapted to be interposed between the connector bar, a connector lever pivoted to said connector bar with which said connectol lrod has connection, a take-up and return spring between parts of said connector and a pedal lever and a cooperating bearing device to be secured to the automobile and a connector link pivotally connected to said connector lever and said pedal lever.

7. An accelerating attachment for automobilescomprising a variable length connector. adapted to be interposed between and entirely supported by the accelerator handle connections and the carbureter and comprising a connector rod and a cooperating connector bar, a connector lever to vary the effective length of said connector and pivoted to said connector bar and connected with said connector rod, a take-up and return spring between parts of said connector,

a pedal operating member and a cooperating bearing device to be secured to the automobile and a connector link pivotally connected to said connector lever and said pedal member to hold said. pedal member in released position.

8. An accelerating attachment for automobiles comprising a variable length connector adapted to be interposed between and entirely supported. by the accelerator handle connections and the carbureter and comprising a connector rod and a cooperating connector bar, a connector lever to vary the efl'ective length of said connection and pivoted to said connector bar and .connected with said connector rod, a pedal operating member and a cooperating bearing device to be secured to the automobile and a connector link connected to said connector lever and said pedal member to hold said pedal member in alinement.

An accelerating attachment for automobiles comprising a variable length connector adapted to be interposed between and entirely supported by the accelerator automoblle and a connector link connected g to said connector lever and said pedal member to hold said pedal member in released position. a

10. An accelerating attachment for automobiles, comprising a variable length connector adapted to be interposed between and entirely supported by the accelerator handle connections and the carbureter and comprising a plurality of slidingly connected connector members and a connector regulating device supported on said connector to vary the relative longitudinal position of said connector members and the effective length of said connector, a take-up and return spring taking up slack between the members of said connector and the adjacent connections, a pedal operating member and a connector link connected to said connector THOMAS, c. Lncn.

Witness C. S. WILLIAMS. 

